US Officials: Russia Achieving Goals in Syria, and at Sustainable Costs

While Obama Administration officials initially were outspoken about predicting a quick, disastrous failure for the Russian war against ISIS in Syria, US officials are now saying their assessment is that Russia is achieving its goals in the conflict.

This is an incredible admission for US officials, even if given anonymously, as Russia’s only been engaged in the war for three months. Administration officials now believe the Assad government is in a “indisputable” safer position because of Russia’s involvement.

Beyond that, the officials say, Russia is keeping the costs of their military involvement relatively low, and it likely can be sustained indefinitely at a cost of $1-$2 billion annually. With minimal casualties, Russia could keep this going a long time.

The officials also say they believe Russia’s involvement was designed in part to allow them to test new weapons in battlefield conditions, and that this means the military is seeing “benefits” from the conflict for the cost.

Just as I expected Russia has several game changing weapons they would like to try out in actual combat situations . Anybody that has seen these new weapons in demonstrations know there good real good . I overheard some American pilots that saw the Russian fighter plane on demonstration in India say the best defense would be ejection . That the kind of equipment Russia brought to Syria , Don't expect F16s or even f15s to fight with these planes

I'm not the only one that sees Putin losing! Here we go again! Vlad the Invincible! Leaving aside the astounding coincidence that a staunch supporter of Putin just happened to be within earshot when an American pilot just happened to make an indiscreet remark, the equipment Russia brought to Syria may well be fine for use against lightly armed guerillas but it certainly was no match for the Turkish air force! What Putin fears is the spread of Islamic guerilla groups to Russia's Caucasian empire or to the Muslim republics he's trying to rope in to his "Eurasian Economic Union". The planes he sent to Syria are certainly good enough for that (and for killing hordes of civilians who get in the way) but as I said above, the one and only time that a Russian plane got into conflict with a NATO country it was shot down.

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, is it. You and the other terrorist cheerleaders like Lindsey Graham and John McCain can take a long walk off a short pier.
Time to get with the winning team, Retardo.

Can't wait to see what M Kenny has to say about this. No, actually, I can wait.

Meanwhile, the US has no goals in the region, and if it had any, it hasn't achieve them after decades of "involvement" and "leadership." On the other hand, the collateral benefit of enriching the war mafia–mission accomplished–big time!

Excellent news! Putin is now totally bogged down in a years-long war to prop up Assad. This is what I meant when I said that even if Putin wins, he loses. Assad has been turned into a Russian colonial pupprt, just like the communists in Afghanistan. Mission creep will do the rest. The Soviets were bogged down in Afghanistan for 10 years and that, combined with an arms race in Europe, broke their economy and brought down their whole system.